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September 25 - October 1, 2009 www.independentweekly.com.au 7The Independent Weekly news Hardy, hearty, Harley Former SANFL player and now Geelong captain Tom Harley has just about done it all. A Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, Harley vice- captained the All-Australian side and was judged the best captain in the league by the AFL Players Association in the same year. His numerous awards for Geelong, including the Most Determined and Most Dedicated Player in 2000 and the Best Clubman in 2002, 2006 and 2008 and, after 197 games -- 73 as captain of Geelong -- Harley is one of the brightest stars of the competition. He is, of course, also a premiership captain. But tomorrow, which could well mark the end of his illustrious career, Harley will try to add a single word to his impressive resume: dual. Should he become a dual premiership captain, Harley will join Michael Voss, Wayne Carey, Adelaide's Mark Bickley and West Coast's John Worsfold as a captain who has taken his side to the pinnacle of Australian football on multiple occasions since the AFL was launched in 1990. But despite enjoying a promis- ing and fruitful junior career, AFL success hasn't come easily for Captain Cat. He vice-captained the St Peters College First XVIII in 1995 and was awarded under-18 All-Australian selection before being drafted by Port Adelaide in 1996. Harley struggled to break into the Power side and spent much of his time playing for Norwood in the SANFL but, despite playing in two lead-up finals, was dropped for the grand final which the Red Legs won convincingly. Harley finally made his AFL debut the following year, but it would be the only game he'd play for the Power. Port Adelaide traded him to Geelong for the 37th pick in the 1998 national draft. But rather than think of it as a blow, Harley's father Richard said Tom couldn't have been happier about the move. "I think it was the best thing that's happened to him," he said. "He was keen to get out of South Australia. Tom's never wanted to die wondering and I think he thought that if his football career was going to go anywhere it would have to be away from SA. "Gary Ayres was instrumental in getting Tommy over there. We sat down and had a cup of tea with him and he said there were opportunities at both ends of the ground." Richard said Geelong had been keen on his son for a few years before the move. The move to snare a young, full head-of-haired Tom Harley is one that's paid off big time for the 2007 premiers who are, largely due to his defensive prowess, the best side of the last three years. Richard said he had "no doubt" his son's career was "beyond his wildest expectations" but couldn't shed any light on where the skipper got the leader- ship qualities which have the Cats winning 87.5 per cent of games under his guidance. "I've got no idea, sorry," he laughed. "He had never captained a side until Geelong -- not even house footy at school. "But he does have characteristics that are important for leadership, I suppose. He recognised a long time ago that he's not the most gifted player in the country and that if he wanted to get anywhere it would have to be through hard work," his father said. "He'd leave home at 6.30 in the morning and say there's no point in dying wondering. I think it's that attitude that's become his trademark -- he's always given 100 per cent and others respect that. Once you have respect it makes it much easier to lead a group of individuals." The 2009 season has been a tough one for Harley. He didn't run out with his side until round seven and, hindered by knee and hamstring problems, has been limited to only 13 games. At 31, there is a real possibility that he'll play his last game of AFL football tomorrow on Australia's biggest sporting stage. Although he won't admit the 2009 Grand Final will be his farewell, he won't deny it either. "It could be, it could be," Harley said. "It's really of no concern either way as to how I approach this game -- it's a grand final, and everyone plays a grand final like it's the last game of the year, because it is. But I'm not lying when I say a decision hasn't been made." His father agrees. "Tom's told everyone that he hasn't made a decision yet and I genuinely believe he hasn't. He's got the grand final this weekend and once that's done he's said he'll discuss his future with the people that have a significant interest in it -- I'd like to think I'm one of those," Richard joked. Win or lose tomorrow, retire or play on, Tom Harley will be remembered as one of the great captains of the modern era. But win, and he'd be recognised alongside Michael Voss as the best of the decade. Every footballer longs to "go out on a high". Captaining his all-conquering side to its second premiership in three years could be a height too lofty for Harley to ignore. He's South Australian all the way -- but had to leave the state to prove he could go all the way in the AFL. On the eve of the last Saturday in September, Harry Thring profiles one of our greatest exports. Tom Harley: Could be drawing the curtains on a distinguished career after tomorrow's grand final. Photo: John Donegan Harley raises the 2007 Premiership Cup alongside Geelong coach Mark Thompson. Photo Joe Armao Rural students want immediate cash Students should auto- matically get youth allowance when attending university away from home, a Senate inquiry heard in Adelaide this week. The inquiry was estab- lished by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Nationals Senator Fiona Nash after the Rudd Government made changes to the youth allowance system earlier this year. The senators say the changes will disadvantage rural students leaving home for university by making it harder for them to qualify for the full youth allowance. Representatives from Mount Gambier High School, Loxton High School and Renmark High School gave evidence to the panel on Wednesday afternoon. Mary Dickins from the Mt Gambier High School Governing Council said the disadvantages rural students face in accessing tertiary education should be balanced by assigning them a payment. "Rural and regional students who must leave home to attend university should automatically be considered independent and qualify for youth allowance in their own right," she said. "Any solution that involves a country student allowance based on a definition of rurality should not be means tested," said Renmark High School assistant principal David Crouch. The principal of Loxton High School, Kent Spangenberg, told the inquiry problems with rural student education affected the whole community. "On Thursday one of our police officers made the decision to go back to Adelaide, and a couple of teachers have done the same thing. "They'll go back to Adelaide as their kids go to study. The reason they're doing it is because it will save their family money," he said. The inquiry will continue travelling around Australia to hear from more witnesses. Farrin Foster Talk to the doctors at AMI CALL OR SMS 'TRY' TO 1800 20 40 90 WANT LONGER LASTING SEX? PROBLEMS GETTING AROUSED OR REACHING ORGASM? 1800 20 40 90 MEN: WOMEN: GOOD ERECTIONS? PREMATURE EJACULATION?